The National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum (NMHFM) has announced that the Matchless Mine will close temporarily for rehabilitation work starting Thursday, August 20. The closure will affect both the guided tours and the historic area while earthmoving operations are underway to rehabilitate the No. 6 hoist house. The site will remain closed until the first week of September, with the exact reopening date contingent on the progress of the work. Once completed, the mine will reopen for guided tours, but self-guided tours will not be available during the ongoing rehabilitation.
The rehabilitation project is a collaboration between NMHFM and HistoriCorps, funded by a $104,332 grant from History Colorado’s State Historical Fund and a $29,000 grant from the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, awarded in 2019. The project aims to stabilize and rehabilitate the No. 6 hoist house, which is at risk of collapsing due to snow accumulation over the years, lateral soil movement, and wet conditions affecting the foundation. The hoist house, which once contained the hoist used for lowering and raising miners and ore in the No. 6 shaft, is an essential part of the Matchless Mine’s history. Without intervention, the building would deteriorate beyond repair in the coming years.
Matchless Mine, famously tied to Horace Tabor and his wife, Baby Doe, produced a large quantity of silver ore that contributed to their wealth. The mine remained in the Tabor family from 1879 until 1935 when Baby Doe passed away. The Leadville Assembly donated the mine to NMHFM in 2006, and it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2010.
HistoriCorps is managing the rehabilitation project, and the work will comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties. Additionally, Scheuber + Darden Architects will oversee construction, and Metcalf Archaeological Consultants will ensure compliance with all relevant cultural resource laws.
This is not the first rehabilitation effort at the Matchless Mine. In 2014-2015, the mine’s powder magazine underwent rehabilitation, supported by grants from various foundations. More recently, in 2017, the No. 6 headframe was preserved thanks to funding from the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, El Pomar Foundation, and the Leadville Trail 100 Legacy Foundation.
Before the closure, the Matchless Mine is open for self-guided surface tours from 11 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and guided tours are available at noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to maintain social distancing and wear face masks.
Freeport Announces Leadership Changes
Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE: FCX), the parent company of the Climax Mine near Leadville, has announced the retirement of Harry M. “Red” Conger IV as President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) – Americas. Conger, who has served the company for 33 years, will retire effective September 1, 2020. Joshua F. “Josh” Olmsted, currently Senior Vice President – Americas, will succeed Conger as COO. Olmsted has been with Freeport-McMoRan for 28 years, and during his tenure, he has held several leadership positions, including overseeing operations in both the U.S. and South America.
Olmsted, who is a mining engineering graduate of Colorado School of Mines, is known for his technical expertise and leadership. Richard C. Adkerson, Freeport’s President and CEO, praised Conger for his contributions to the company and the mining industry, calling him a champion for the sector. He expressed confidence in Olmsted’s ability to lead the company’s Americas operations.
Freeport-McMoRan, headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, is one of the world’s largest copper producers. The company operates large-scale mining assets, including the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia, and significant operations in North and South America, including the Morenci district in Arizona and Cerro Verde in Peru. The Climax Mine, located in Lake County, is also part of Freeport’s portfolio of assets.
